Coventry-based manufacturing support provider
e-ppl has been approved by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to deliver accredited Electric Vehicle (EV) technician training at its dedicated evo vehicle workshop in the city.
The move will see e-ppl deliver high-voltage vehicle safety and technical training to support the growing demand for qualified EV professionals across the UK. There is a well-documented skills shortage in the sector, with a shortfall of 37,700 technicians predicted by 2030 if retraining isn’t addressed urgently.
With a practical training space already used for prototype and low-volume vehicle builds, the e-vo facility has been upgraded to include a dedicated classroom, EV response area, live working zones and the necessary tooling to support hands-on learning in a safe, controlled environment.
Bob Dover, Chairman at e-ppl Group, said: “This is about making sure the skills needed for the future of mobility are being developed now, in a real-world environment. Safety is critical when it comes to EV work, and our facility allows technicians to learn in a space that reflects the challenges they’ll face on the job. We're proud to be contributing to skills development both here in Coventry and across the wider UK supply chain.”
Paul Simmerson, CEO of e-ppl Group, said: “Getting our own technicians trained and qualified has been a challenge over recent years and most of our customers also struggle to get the volume of people they need trained in a reasonable timeframe. We would often enquire and be told that the first available course is four months away. Our primary e-ppl and auto-scan businesses provide services to UK Vehicle Manufacturers and Dealerships, and various companies were using different courses. Now we are an accredited IMI training provider, our courses have been specifically created to cover, for example, Level 1 = Informed Person / Level 2 = Competent Person / Level 3 = Authorised Person / Level 4 = Senior Authorised & Live Working.”
The new training centre is expected to support a mix of upskilling, reskilling and entry-level pathways into EV technician roles, with flexible options for employers and individuals alike.
Steven Convery, Business Skills Support Team Manager at
Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “After visiting the new EV training centre in Coventry, it’s clear this facility is exactly what our region needs. The Coventry and Warwickshire region has a proud automotive heritage, and this kind of hands-on, accredited training is vital to ensure we’re not left behind as the industry shifts to electric. The skills gap is real, and initiatives like this are key to preparing our local workforce for the future.”
e-ppl works nationally across the automotive, defence, commercial and specialist vehicle sectors and has previously supported EV manufacturers with prototype builds, live battery rework and high-voltage engineering services.
e-vo specialises in building prototypes and low-volume vehicle builds for new-to-market clients such as Volta Trucks and has delivered military and service vehicle builds and conversions.